[Ironflight]

A few years back, Louise and I organized an October fly out RV camping trip (we didn’t do much - published a date and a location basically….) to M45, Alpine County airport in the foothills of the Sierra near Markleeville CA. We had some fun times sitting around the campfire in the unimproved woods next to the airstrip ramp - and chasing bears in the middle of the night! Well, things change - the airport is still there, but teh woods, well….fires happen. A massive fire in the area a couple of seasons ago pretty much denuded the landscape. We’re currently playing around with a new E-Ab NX Cub, and popped over to M45 for an evening picnic - hadn’t been on the ground since the fire. It reminds me of the old ad that showed Smokey Bear with a tear in his eye looking over a burned forest…. But, fire is part of nature, and new growth is already carpeting the bare landscape with green.


Looking up the hill at the campsite - this road used to be totally wooded…



Looking down the drainage - this was also a road through a nice woods - you couldn’t see beyond the next bend…



The view across the runway and ramp - the whole hillside we used to climb was burned….

 

[Scott Chastain]

Fond memories, indeed, and certainly not lost to the ashes. For some perspective, Paul, here are a few memories I have of our Alpine adventure you and I shared 9 years ago. Seems like yesterday, doesn't it?

Our community campfire pit as we all prepare for sunset with a couple of canine companions:



Looking down toward the lake from the edge of the campground area:




​

 

[rph142]

I was going to race the deathride the day it burned up. Just as we finished setting up camp, calfire raced up and told everyone to evacuate before their “hardware” landed. We watched the fire go from a puff of smoke to a solid wall in a few hours.

 

[Jerry Fischer]

A few years back, Louise and I organized an October fly out RV camping trip (we didn’t do much - published a date and a location basically….) to M45, Alpine County airport in the foothills of the Sierra near Markleeville CA. We had some fun times sitting around the campfire in the unimproved woods next to the airstrip ramp - and chasing bears in the middle of the night! Well, things change - the airport is still there, but teh woods, well….fires happen. A massive fire in the area a couple of seasons ago pretty much denuded the landscape. We’re currently playing around with a new E-Ab NX Cub, and popped over to M45 for an evening picnic - hadn’t been on the ground since the fire. It reminds me of the old ad that showed Smokey Bear with a tear in his eye looking over a burned forest…. But, fire is part of nature, and new growth is already carpeting the bare landscape with green.


Looking up the hill at the campsite - this road used to be totally wooded…

View attachment 86712

Looking down the drainage - this was also a road through a nice woods - you couldn’t see beyond the next bend…
View attachment 86713


The view across the runway and ramp - the whole hillside we used to climb was burned….
View attachment 86714

Nature has a way of reminding us if how fragile this earth is...we need to take as good a care of her while we live here. Reminds me of Sandy and I on our first trip to Yellowstone after the fires in '95. we saw naked Lodge Pole pines standing sentry while the undergrowth was re-nourishing the landscape. (I miss camping). Except we be campin' @ OSH...

 

[Skibum]

A few years back, Louise and I organized an October fly out RV camping trip (we didn’t do much - published a date and a location basically….) to M45, Alpine County airport in the foothills of the Sierra near Markleeville CA. We had some fun times sitting around the campfire in the unimproved woods next to the airstrip ramp - and chasing bears in the middle of the night! Well, things change - the airport is still there, but teh woods, well….fires happen. A massive fire in the area a couple of seasons ago pretty much denuded the landscape. We’re currently playing around with a new E-Ab NX Cub, and popped over to M45 for an evening picnic - hadn’t been on the ground since the fire. It reminds me of the old ad that showed Smokey Bear with a tear in his eye looking over a burned forest…. But, fire is part of nature, and new growth is already carpeting the bare landscape with green.


Looking up the hill at the campsite - this road used to be totally wooded…

View attachment 86712

Looking down the drainage - this was also a road through a nice woods - you couldn’t see beyond the next bend…
View attachment 86713


The view across the runway and ramp - the whole hillside we used to climb was burned….
View attachment 86714

Beautiful cub! Right around the corner from the departure end of 17 are some great spots right near the river where I’m sure a plane like that would feel much more at home. I bet you know where I’m talking about though… The Tamarack and Caldor fires were devastating, some of the best play grounds around are moonscapes now.

 

[MarcCook]

Ahem, I don't think that's an RV...

 

[Ironflight]

Ahem, I don't think that's an RV...

Way, way slower, yes……

 

[rockwoodrv9]

I was going to race the deathride the day it burned up. Just as we finished setting up camp, calfire raced up and told everyone to evacuate before their “hardware” landed. We watched the fire go from a puff of smoke to a solid wall in a few hours.

Wow. I did the Deathride 4 years back in the 80's. What a pretty place. It is terrible it got burned. I have several friends who lost houses and property in the fire.